In a daring and audacious theft, Cody Denning stands accused of pilfering a treasure trove of autographed jerseys worth a staggering $22,000 from Underdog Collectibles in Knoxville. The perpetrator was swiftly apprehended by the authorities and charged with a string of crimes, including burglary, theft of property, and vandalism in connection with the brazen heist that left the store rattled.
The caper unfolded under the cover of darkness on May 18 when Denning first scouted the store, meticulously eyeing the precious jerseys he would later snatch. Surveillance footage captured his devious actions as he pored over the jerseys around 8:50 p.m., even going so far as to rearrange them, all while cryptically sharing his nefarious plans with his wife. Hours later, his sinister intentions materialized when he launched his assault on the store, shattering a window with a rock to gain illicit entry in the wee hours of the morning.
Denning’s nefarious exploits did not end with the theft itself. In a misguided attempt to offload his ill-gotten gains, he brazenly tried to vend two of the pilfered jerseys at a local sports retailer, Pro Image Sports in West Town Mall. Adding to his folly, incriminating footage from his vehicle revealed a stash of stolen hats – also traced back to the store – further cementing his hand in the looting spree.
In the aftermath of the criminal escapade, Underdog Collectibles turned to social media in a bid to rally support from the community in recovering the purloined jerseys. The store implored the public to keep a vigilant eye out for the stolen merchandise and to promptly notify them upon any leads. By verifying the unique serial numbers on the jerseys, they hoped to thwart any attempts at profiting from the ill-begotten goods while aiding in the apprehension of the perpetrator and the restitution of the stolen merchandise.
Thankfully, amidst the wreckage caused by the burglary, the store reassured the public that the physical damage was minimal, and, most importantly, no individuals were harmed during the unlawful incursion. Despite the setback, Underdog Collectibles presses on with its mission to crowdsource assistance in tracking down the valuable merchandise, underlining the importance of community support in preventing further losses and facilitating the recovery process.
